This whole baked red tilapia recipe is juicy, tender, and flaky on the inside and slightly crispy on the outside. Full of aromatic herbs and spices, and bright citrus flavors, this whole fish recipe is fragrant and delicious. Serve it with a simple garden salad for an easy and delicious 30-minute seafood dinner!

Cooking whole fish can seem daunting, but it's actually one of the easiest ways to prepare fish. All you need to do is cover your fish with herbs and spices then bake it in the oven until it's tender. That's it, you don't have to bread it, dip it into a batter, or deal with cutting the fish into fillets.

Looking for a way to cook tilapia fillets? Cooked them straight from from the freezer in my air fryer frozen tilapia recipe. Highly recommend!

Another great thing about preparing a whole fish is that the skin is still intact so it protects the meat on the inside from getting too dry. While it's cooking the fish will retain all its juices, so you'll have flavorful fish every time.

Cooking whole fish is also a great way to save money on seafood. Whole fish is often times cheaper than filleted fish because there's less work involved for the fishmonger. If you've never prepared a whole fish before, don't worry, in this baked red tilapia recipe I will show you exactly how to cook a whole tilapia from start to finish!

Recipe ingredients

Whole red tilapia. Washed and cleaned with the scales removed.

Green onions. Chopped and stuffed inside the fish cavity to give a mild onion flavor to the meat.

Olive oil. Helps to keep the fish moist and tender in the oven.

Ginger. Grated and added to the sauce to give a spicy and fresh ginger flavor to the tilapia.

Fresh herbs. Cilantro is my favorite, but you could also use parsley instead. Fresh herbs look nice and add amazing flavor to the red tilapia.

Salt and black pepper. Staple kitchen seasonings to bring out the flavors of the other ingredients.

Ground paprika. Gives a subtle sweetness and nice red color.

Garlic. Peeled and chopped. Added to the sauce to give a fresh garlic aroma and flavor to the fish.

Lemon. Sliced and layered over the fish. Fresh lemon slices are a great way to keep the fish moist and juicy while adding a nice citrus flavor.

How to make baked whole red tilapia recipe

If your fish is frozen, thaw is first in the fridge overnight or on the counter for a few hours. Make sure its thawed completely because if not it will affect baking time.

Start with preheating oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Wash and clean the fish, make sure that all the guts are removed and all the scales are gone as well. Sometimes fish comes already cleaned so there is not much you need to do.

In a small bowl mix chopped green onions or chives, add grated ginger (you can use a paste if you want). chopped cilantro. salt, black pepper, paprika and chopped or minced garlic clove.

Lay baking dish with parchment paper and place whole red tilapia on it. Mix all the ingredients and pour the mixture on top of the fish and add some inside the cavity as well. Add lemon slices on top of the fish. Bake for 30-35 minutes.

Cooking time depends in the size of your fish. Start checking the internal temperature after about 30 minutes of cooking. My fish was at the recommended 145 degrees at 32 minutes into baking. Stick the instant meat thermometer in to the thickest part of the fish to make sure it's done.

Tips for cooking whole fish

Baking a whole tilapia is a pretty straightforward process, but here are a few tips that will help you have success every time!

• Start by cleaning your fish. Most of the time whole tilapia comes cleaned, but in case it doesn't this should be done before covering it with the sauce. Use the back of your knife to remove the scales. Cut a slit in the belly to clean the inside of the fish cavity with cool running water.
• Make sure your fish is thawed before cooking. Working with thawed or fresh fish will give you the best taste and texture. On top of that, you will be able to get more of the flavorful sauce into all the nooks and crannies of the fish better, so more of your fish is flavored.
• Add plenty of herbs and spices. Don't hold back on the seasonings, it's what makes this baked red tilapia the best! Flavorful herbs like cilantro and green onions, ginger, garlic, and fresh lemon slices all work to add a lot of flavor to the meat.
• Cook on parchment paper. Parchment paper helps to help the fish from sticking to the baking dish and helps to insulate the fish so it doesn't dry out as quickly in the oven. You could also use aluminum foil if you like!

Frequently asked questions

Side dishes

You can add chopped zucchinis and cherry tomatoes to the baking dish before placing it in the oven. This way vegetables will cook along with the fish. If feeding a crowd cook some white or brown rice or potatoes. It could be roasted potatoes, mashed or scalloped. Or simply boiled with dill and butter- my favorite!

Make a fresh spring salad with romaine lettuce or arugula, kale, cherry tomatoes, onion and cucumbers. Drizzle olive oil and a little bit of balsamic vinegar and enjoy your healthy dinner!

Another great side dish for white fish is broccoli or roasted asparagus. Perfect for late dinners and very healthy!

Storage

Leftovers. Store baked red tilapia leftovers in the fridge in the air tight container for up to 4 days. Try to eat it as fast as possible because fish tastes best when its fresh.

Freezer. You can freeze cooked fish. Place it in the freezer safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheat. Reheat in the microwave, air fryer or in the oven until heated to your liking.

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